Countenances of Narcissa : is a romantic poetess a poet? : "Szczęście poety" on Narcyza Żmichowska’s

The study analyzes identity of a romantic text’s subject defi ned by itself as a poet and as a woman. A subject of this type is present in an early work by Narcyza Żmichowska Szczęście poety (Poet’s Happiness). Th e key issue of the discussed text of language in which the lyrical "I" refers to its genius, of inspiration and work, is outlined on the one hand against a romantic self-theme, and on the other hand a specifi c way of presenting a woman which was characteristic for the epoch. Th e two problems clash dialectically in the text and are the fundamental context of Żmichowska’s work. The clash results in a signifi cant transformation of topoi relating to poetry. The analysis of Szczęście poety is aimed at presenting various "countenances of a Narcissa", and various ways of successive avatars coming to light - which are surpassed every time. In effect, "I" of the poem becomes a transgressive subject which recognizes it self in the individual forms in order to free it self from the limitations, also from gender, which becomes possible in poetry